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Ahmadul Kobir, Malaysia: At 101, his body may no longer be as strong as it once was. Recently injured in a fall, with one hand still wrapped in a bandage, Malaysia’s veteran statesman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad nevertheless showed that age and physical frailty have done little to diminish his love for Merdeka.
Seated in an electric wheelchair, the country’s former prime minister joined the grand celebrations marking Malaysia’s 69th National Day at Dataran Putrajaya on Monday.
His appearance at the 2026 Merdeka Day Parade drew widespread attention and touched many in the crowd. As thousands gathered for the celebrations, Mahathir waved to the public, greeted well-wishers and posed for selfies with people who came forward to meet him.
A livestream from Mahathir’s official TikTok account, @chedetofficial, also showed him taking part in the National Day celebrations. He appeared cheerful and relaxed as he waved to the crowd and exchanged greetings with members of the public.
His presence at this year’s Merdeka celebrations carried an added significance. Putrajaya, Malaysia’s administrative capital, was developed under Mahathir’s vision and leadership during his first tenure as prime minister.
When plans were unveiled to establish a new administrative centre outside Kuala Lumpur, the ambitious project faced considerable criticism. Questions were raised over the need for a new federal administrative city and the huge cost involved, with some critics dismissing it as wasteful and unnecessarily expensive.
Over the years, however, much of that criticism has given way to recognition of Putrajaya’s importance to Malaysia’s administrative and urban development.
Today, the city is home to key federal ministries, government departments and administrative institutions. Its expansive roads, modern government buildings, carefully planned infrastructure and distinctive urban design have transformed Putrajaya into the centre of Malaysia’s federal administration.
At Monday’s parade, Mahathir appeared to be witnessing the living reality of a vision he had helped shape decades ago. While many of the decisions made during his long and often controversial political career remain subjects of debate, Putrajaya stands as one of the most visible manifestations of his emphasis on long-term planning and national development.
Mahathir’s appearance was particularly poignant given his recent health setbacks. He was injured in a fall and subsequently received treatment and rehabilitation at the National Heart Institute, or Institut Jantung Negara (IJN). He has gradually resumed public appearances following his treatment, although the bandage on one hand was still visible during Monday’s celebrations.
He has faced health difficulties before. Last year, while attending a picnic and potluck gathering organised to mark his 100th birthday, he reportedly became excessively fatigued and was taken to IJN for treatment.
Despite such setbacks, Mahathir remains one of Malaysia’s most consequential political figures. He served as prime minister twice. During his first tenure, from 1981 to 2003, he led the country for 22 consecutive years, overseeing a period of rapid economic growth and major infrastructure development.
He returned to the premiership in 2018 at the age of 92, becoming the world’s oldest serving head of government at the time. He remained in office until 2020.
In a message shared on social media to mark the 69th National Day, Mahathir also conveyed his greetings to the people of Malaysia on the occasion of Merdeka. But on Monday, his presence spoke louder than any message.
Despite his physical limitations, the sight of the former prime minister in a wheelchair became one of the more emotional moments of the celebrations. The warmth of the crowd, the greetings and the requests for selfies offered a reminder that, for many Malaysians, Mahathir remains a deeply recognisable figure in the nation’s modern history.
Age may have slowed him down, but it has not erased his attachment to Merdeka.
For Mahathir, returning to the National Day parade in the city that grew from his own vision was more than attendance at a state ceremony. It was an emotional encounter between a statesman, his long political journey and one of the most enduring legacies of his vision for Malaysia.